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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 1d

Probably the area where variable geometry does flourish is defence. Maybe because for a long time the idea of doing serious things in defence was anathema? So smaller groups was the only option?

I do find it striking and maybe off that we do so little at ‘less than 27’ on foreign policy.

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 5d

“The good news is that Beijing’s behaviour towards the Kremlin depends more on the price we make China pay than we might think.”

Lots of interesting data on the Russia - China economic relationships in our visual story.

What’s really going on and what can we do about it?

The dependence gap in Russia-China relations

Tracing where pragmatism ends and geopolitical signalling begins.

www.iss.europa.eu

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 7d

Are Europeans willing to support & defend each other? Today, we uncovered the results of a survey by @eui-eu.bsky.social & @yougov.co.uk on solidarity in Europe, examining public support to Ukraine & the effect of the new Trump presidency. Crisis can both unite & divide Europe. Results public soon!

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 7d

How to organise Europe’s defence ramp up?

As EU leaders meet in Copenhagen, here an argument that the real momentum lies in shifting coalitions - more than the EU at 27 or NATO at 32.

A patchwork of small groups. Messy but effective.

Europe is a patchwork, and that is a good thing

In the recent drone attacks, it was always small groups of European countries that took action. Not all important decisions are made by all 27 EU Member States.

www.iss.europa.eu

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 8d

Europe is a patchwork of shifting coalitions but in defence, that patchwork is where Europe’s real strength lies argues @sbeverts.bsky.social. Messy, yet effective.

🔗 Read the analysis: www.iss.europa.eu/publications...

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Reposted by Steven Everts

Prof.dr. Beatrice de Graaf @beatricedegraaf.bsky.social · 8d

“En misschien zit juist in die lappendeken van kleine coalities de echte Europese kracht.” uitstekend punt dat Steven Everts hier maakt:

www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Opinie | Europa is een lappendeken, en dat is juist een goede zaak

Geopolitiek: Bij de recente drone-provocaties waren het telkens kleine groepen Europese landen die in actie kwamen. Lang niet alle belangrijke besluiten worden dan ook genomen door de 27 EU-lidstaten,...

www.nrc.nl

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Reposted by Steven Everts

Gerard Rathenau @grathenau.bsky.social · 8d

Interessante visie van @sbeverts.bsky.social : de kracht van EU op defensiegebied is wisselende coalities van 3-5 landen en niet een overall defensiebeleid van 27 landen

www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Opinie | Europa is een lappendeken, en dat is juist een goede zaak

Geopolitiek: Bij de recente drone-provocaties waren het telkens kleine groepen Europese landen die in actie kwamen. Lang niet alle belangrijke besluiten worden dan ook genomen door de 27 EU-lidstaten,...

www.nrc.nl

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 8d

Dank!

VK, Noorwegen maar ook Canada allemaal goede opties om concreet dingen samen te doen of materiaal kopen.

Hongarije zou duidelijk gemaakt moeten worden dat hun interesse om mee te doen alleen kan indien ze hun vele veto’s opheffen. Zodat we eindelijk vaart kunnen maken met steun Oekraïne.

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 8d

Je hebt twee Europa’s; dat van de EU met 27 landen. En het Europa van de wisselende coalities. Juist omdat de 27 steeds meer vastlopen in verdeeldheid, zoekt men elkaar steeds meer in wisselende coalities. Defensie een goed voorbeeld. Rommelig maar wel effectief.

Mijn stuk voor @nrc.nl:

Opinie | Europa is een lappendeken, en dat is juist een goede zaak

Geopolitiek: Bij de recente drone-provocaties waren het telkens kleine groepen Europese landen die in actie kwamen. Lang niet alle belangrijke besluiten worden dan ook genomen door de 27 EU-lidstaten,...

www.nrc.nl

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 9d

The geopolitics of supply chains is heating up and China is sharpening its tools as well as its strategic intent.

@joristeer.bsky.social who’s the economic security lead @euiss.bsky.social, talking here to the FT ↘️

Joris Teer @joristeer.bsky.social · 10d

Great to speak to the FT, sharing quotes on geopolitical aims behind Chinese industrial policy - and what this means for Europe's chances of achieving reverse tech transfer through Chinese investments in EU, like CATL's in Spain

www.ft.com/content/0f26...

@euiss.bsky.social @sbeverts.bsky.social

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 13d

Beneath the summits & communiqués, the #EUIndia partnership lacks a shared vision. Misunderstandings & diverging priorities hold it back. Without greater focus & coherence, it risks remaining a partnership of power without purpose.
🔗 ow.ly/f2JV50X1VUl

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 12d

Great pleasure to host Gerald Knaus at EUISS today for an exchange on Europe’s foreign policy challenges and future. His insights sparked a truly engaging discussion!

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 15d

⚠️ Without smarter coordination, Europe risks wasting much of its growing defence investments.

Europeans should embrace flexible small-group cooperation and strengthen their partnership with #Ukraine, writes @lscazzieri.bsky.social. www.iss.europa.eu/publications...

New EUISS brief | Rebuilding Europe's defences: How to unlock a coordinated defence surge
Written by Luigi Scazzieri

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 15d

That’s indeed a factor. So all the more reason to build up capacity in Europe.

Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 15d

Also as US is increasingly saying ‘we no longer want to sell to you, we have other priorities’.

So we need to buy and build more European.

The U.S. Is Quietly Pausing Some Arms Sales to Europe

As part of the “America First” agenda, the Department of Defense is stockpiling weapons.

www.theatlantic.com

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 15d

European governments voting with their money. Only 8% of new German defence procurement planned to go to US companies. Wise move.

Germany’s €80B rearmament plan sidelines US weapons

A procurement plan obtained by POLITICO shows Berlin’s rearmament spree will overwhelmingly benefit European industry.

www.politico.eu

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 22d

Europe cannot fix Myanmar’s turmoil. But its presence still matters, argues former ambassador @sabatuccieu.bsky.social.
It is one of the few lifelines left for Myanmar’s people. To leave would be to abandon them, and Europe’s credibility.
➡️ ow.ly/vlVh50WWL7h

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 23d

Europeans want the EU to play a bigger role globally. But how? At our annual conference, experts pointed to one barrier above all: risk aversion.

➡️ More in @sbeverts.bsky.social commentary: ow.ly/Lgii50WVBI4

Europe should be willing to take more risks

Europe’s problem is not a lack of resources or unity, but a lack of courage. Unless it shows resolve, it risks remaining a plaything of the US and China.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Steven Everts

Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 25d

To say Europe must play a stronger role is easy. Large majorities of citizens demand it. The question is: how?

At our annual conference we asked diplomats and experts - their answers were surprising and encouraging.

It’s about risk aversion more than anything else.

Europe should be willing to take more risks

Europe’s problem is not a lack of resources or unity, but a lack of courage. Unless it shows resolve, it risks remaining a plaything of the US and China.

www.iss.europa.eu

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Reposted by Steven Everts

Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 25d

We don't do propaganda to make you believe something. It's to make you believe nothing. So you do nothing.

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 25d

To say Europe must play a stronger role is easy. Large majorities of citizens demand it. The question is: how?

At our annual conference we asked diplomats and experts - their answers were surprising and encouraging.

It’s about risk aversion more than anything else.

Europe should be willing to take more risks

Europe’s problem is not a lack of resources or unity, but a lack of courage. Unless it shows resolve, it risks remaining a plaything of the US and China.

www.iss.europa.eu

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 26d

Europe needs to be willing to take more risks. That was one of the main recommendations coming out of the @euiss.bsky.social annual conference. Here my takeaways on the survey we did.

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 26d

Europe’s main problem isn’t resources or unity but courage, warns @sbeverts.bsky.social. Without resolve, it risks remaining a plaything for the US & China.

Read more 👉 ow.ly/Lgii50WVBI4

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Reposted by Steven Everts

EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 26d

The EU must stop being complacent & self-flagellating. It is an economic & political force, and has the military will to defend our freedom & interests. "That’s what we must continue doing,” said Delphine Pronk at #EUISS2025.

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 26d

"De makke van Europa is niet zozeer gebrek aan middelen of eenheid, maar gebrek aan lef."

Bij @euiss.bsky.social vroegen we experts en diplomaten wat Europa nu echt nodig heeft om een vuist te malen. De resultaten waren verrassend en hoopgevend. Mijn laatste stuk voor @nrc.nl:

Opinie | Waarom Europa meer risico’s moet durven nemen

Europa: De makke van Europa is niet zozeer gebrek aan middelen of eenheid, maar gebrek aan lef, vindt Steven Everts. Als het dat niet toont zal Europa een speelbal blijven van grootmachten VS en China...

www.nrc.nl

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Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 28d

If the goal is indeed to ‘pressure Russia’ why doesn’t Trump - finally - do the obvious ie crippling sanctions on Russia, air defence and deep strike weapons to Ukraine? The war would be over soon.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 28d

Breaking news: Donald Trump made the extraordinary demand after dialling into a meeting between senior US and EU officials gathered in Washington to discuss ways to heighten the economic cost of the war in Ukraine for Moscow. on.ft.com/468KEjL

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